C1 · 50 words
Mapping and surveying in Spanish
Scale, contour, projection, parcel — from the pole in the field to the print.
La hoja is the map sheet, one printed rectangle of a series with a number and a name. It is also the leaf on a tree, and the blade of a knife: la hoja del cuchillo. English keeps three words for those — sheet, leaf, blade — and can hardly see what they have in common. Spanish can: all three are flat, thin, and cut off at the edges. When somebody asks for la hoja siguiente, only what is in your hands tells you whether you are being asked for paper, a page, or something sharp.
The words
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Phrase (32)
la escala del mapathe scale of the mapPhraseC1
La escala del mapa se lee antes que nada.The scale of the map is the first thing to read.
la proyección cartográficathe way the round earth is laid flatPhraseC1
La proyección cartográfica deforma siempre algo.The way the round earth is laid flat always distorts something.
la longitud geográficahow far east or west a place isPhraseC1
La longitud geográfica necesitó un reloj fiable.How far east or west a place is needed a reliable clock.
el datum geodésicothe fixed starting point the coordinates count fromPhraseC1
El datum geodésico explica el desplazamiento de cien metros.The fixed starting point the coordinates count from explains a shift of a hundred metres.
el elipsoide de referenciathe smooth shape used instead of the real earthPhraseC1
El elipsoide de referencia sustituye a la forma real.The smooth shape used instead of the real earth stands in for it.
el sistema de coordenadasthe system the coordinates belong toPhraseC1
El sistema de coordenadas se indica en cada hoja.The system the coordinates belong to is printed on every sheet.
la retícula geográficathe grid drawn over the mapPhraseC1
La retícula geográfica ayuda a dar una posición por radio.The grid drawn over the map helps in giving a position by radio.
la curva de nivelthe line joining points of equal heightPhraseC1
La curva de nivel se aprieta donde la ladera cae.The line joining points of equal height crowds together on a steep slope.
la cota altimétricathe height written at a pointPhraseC1
La cota altimétrica del collado va escrita en negro.The height written at a point is printed in black.
el relieve sombreadothe shading that makes the hills stand upPhraseC1
El relieve sombreado supone luz desde el noroeste.The shading that makes the hills stand up assumes light from the north-west.
el modelo digital del terrenothe model of the ground in numbersPhraseC1
El modelo digital del terreno sustituye al dibujo a mano.The model of the ground in numbers has replaced the drawing by hand.
la resolución espacialthe smallest thing the image still showsPhraseC1
La resolución espacial fija lo que aún se distingue.The smallest thing the image still shows sets the limit.
el sistema de información geográficathe system that holds the map dataPhraseC1
El sistema de información geográfica cruza capas distintas.The system that holds the map data lays one layer over another.
la capa de informaciónthe single layer that can be switched offPhraseC1
La capa de información se apaga con un clic.The single layer that can be switched off goes with one click.
el mapa temáticothe map showing one thing onlyPhraseC1
El mapa temático muestra una sola variable.The map showing one thing only shows that one thing.
la leyenda del mapathe key that explains the mapPhraseC1
La leyenda del mapa explica cada trama.The key that explains the map explains every hatching.
el signo convencionalthe agreed sign used on every sheetPhraseC1
El signo convencional se repite en toda la serie.The agreed sign used on every sheet is the same across the series.
la generalización cartográficathe leaving out that has to happen as the scale shrinksPhraseC1
La generalización cartográfica quita antes de dibujar.The leaving out that has to happen as the scale shrinks comes before the drawing.
la hoja del mapathe single printed sheetPhraseC1
La hoja del mapa lleva número y nombre.The single printed sheet has a number and a name.
el corte de hojasthe way the sheets are cutPhraseC1
El corte de hojas parte el pueblo en dos.The way the sheets are cut splits the village in two.
la declinación magnéticathe angle between magnetic north and true northPhraseC1
La declinación magnética cambia con los años.The angle between magnetic north and true north changes over the years.
el levantamiento topográficothe surveying of the groundPhraseC1
El levantamiento topográfico se hace antes del proyecto.The surveying of the ground comes before the design.
el vértice geodésicothe marked point on a hilltopPhraseC1
El vértice geodésico está en lo alto del cerro.The marked point on a hilltop stands at the very top.
la estación totalthe instrument that measures angle and distance at oncePhraseC1
La estación total mide ángulo y distancia a la vez.The instrument that measures angle and distance at once does both.
el receptor GNSSthe satellite receiverPhraseC1
El receptor GNSS necesita cielo despejado.The satellite receiver needs a clear sky.
la corrección diferencialthe correction that sharpens itPhraseC1
La corrección diferencial baja el error a centímetros.The correction that sharpens it brings the error down to centimetres.
el error de cierrethe gap left when a survey closes on itselfPhraseC1
El error de cierre se reparte entre los tramos.The gap left when a survey closes on itself is spread over the legs.
la tolerancia del levantamientothe error a survey is still allowedPhraseC1
La tolerancia del levantamiento consta en el pliego.The error a survey is still allowed is written into the contract.
la parcela catastralthe single plot in that registerPhraseC1
La parcela catastral tiene una referencia única.The single plot in that register has a reference of its own.
el plano de situaciónthe plan showing where the site isPhraseC1
El plano de situación acompaña a la solicitud.The plan showing where the site is goes with the application.
la orientación del mapathe setting of the map to match the groundPhraseC1
La orientación del mapa se comprueba con dos referencias.The setting of the map to match the ground is checked against two landmarks.
la imagen de satélitethe picture taken from a satellitePhraseC1
La imagen de satélite llega con nubes la mitad del año.The picture taken from a satellite comes with cloud half the year.
Noun (f) (11)
la cartografíathe making of mapsNoun (f)C1
La cartografía decide qué se ve y qué se calla.The making of maps decides what is shown and what is left out.
la latitudhow far north or south a place isNoun (f)C1
La latitud se cuenta desde el ecuador.How far north or south a place is is counted from the equator.
la equidistanciathe height between two such linesNoun (f)C1
La equidistancia de este mapa es de diez metros.The height between two such lines is ten metres on this map.
la ortofotothe aerial photograph corrected to lie flatNoun (f)C1
La ortofoto ya no tiene desplazamiento por altura.The aerial photograph corrected to lie flat no longer shifts with height.
la fotogrametríathe measuring done on overlapping photographsNoun (f)C1
La fotogrametría mide sobre imágenes solapadas.The measuring done on overlapping photographs works from two views.
la teledetecciónthe observing from far awayNoun (f)C1
La teledetección observa sin tocar el terreno.The observing from far away needs nobody on the ground.
la georreferenciaciónthe tying of an image to real groundNoun (f)C1
La georreferenciación ata la imagen al terreno.The tying of an image to real ground puts it in its place.
la rotulaciónthe placing of the names on the mapNoun (f)C1
La rotulación no debe tapar el camino.The placing of the names on the map must not hide the path.
la triangulaciónthe covering of a country in trianglesNoun (f)C1
La triangulación cubrió el país antes del satélite.The covering of a country in triangles came before the satellite.
la nivelaciónthe measuring of differences in heightNoun (f)C1
La nivelación se cierra sobre el punto de partida.The measuring of differences in height closes on where it started.
la simbolizaciónthe choosing of the symbolsNoun (f)C1
La simbolización debe resistir la fotocopia.The choosing of the symbols has to survive a photocopy.
Noun (m) (7)
el meridianothe line running from pole to poleNoun (m)C1
El meridiano pasa por los dos polos.The line running from pole to pole passes through both of them.
el paralelothe line running round at one heightNoun (m)C1
El paralelo se acorta hacia el norte.The line running round at one height gets shorter towards the north.
el topónimothe name of a place as it is said thereNoun (m)C1
El topónimo se recoge tal como se dice allí.The name of a place as it is said there is recorded that way.
el rumbothe bearing takenNoun (m)C1
El rumbo se toma con la brújula sobre el mapa.The bearing taken is read off with the compass on the map.
el catastrothe register of who owns which landNoun (m)C1
El catastro dice quién paga el impuesto.The register of who owns which land says who pays the tax.
el deslindethe settling of where the boundary runsNoun (m)C1
El deslinde reúne a los dos vecinos.The settling of where the boundary runs brings both neighbours together.
el amojonamientothe marking of that boundary with stonesNoun (m)C1
El amojonamiento deja hitos visibles.The marking of that boundary with stones leaves them standing.
This list belongs to Nature and natural sciences — 31 lists and 1550 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.